Sealable container arrangement

ABSTRACT

A closable container arrangement includes a container, which includes a container material and has a container longitudinal axis and a container connecting element, a lid which includes a lid material, a sealing element, which includes a sealing material, for sealing the lid on the container, the sealing material includes a hardness which is less than the hardness of the container material and/or is less than the hardness of the lid material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of pending priorU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/935,365 filed Mar. 26, 2018, whichclaims the priority of German Patent Application 10 2017 205 160.4 filedMar. 27, 2017, the entire contents of each application are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sealable container arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

WO 02/087 986 A1 discloses a container having a seal on the containerlid. The seal is integrally molded on the lid as a sealing lip. Furthercontainers with a seal are known from DE 40 02 982 A1, DE 297 06 611 U1and DE 102 24 369 A1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to increase the sealing of acontainer interior of a container arrangement of the generic type.

Said object is achieved according to the invention by a sealablecontainer arrangement having

-   -   a. a container which comprises a container material and has a        container longitudinal axis and a container connecting element,    -   b. a lid which comprises a lid material and        -   I. is connectable to the container and        -   ii. comprises a lid connecting element which corresponds to            the container connecting element,        -   iii. comprises a collar and a cover plate which is connected            in one piece to the collar,    -   c. a sealing element, which comprises a sealing material, for        sealing the lid on the container,    -   characterized in that    -   d. the sealing material comprises a hardness which is less than        the hardness of the container material and/or is less than the        hardness of the lid material    -   e. the lid comprises a circumferential groove in which the        sealing element is arranged in a captive manner, wherein the        groove comprises a groove width (B_(N)) which is smaller than or        equal to a thickness of the sealing element,    -   f. a displaceable bottom which is arranged in a sealed manner        along the container longitudinal axis in the container is        provided.

It has been recognized according to the invention that the tightness ofa container arrangement is thus improved when use is made of a sealingelement produced from a sealing material, the hardness of which is lessthan the hardness of a container material of a container and/or than thehardness of a lid material of a lid. The sealing action is improved.Tests have shown that the sealing element produced from the softersealing material comprises an improved sealing action in particularcompared to the sealing lip disclosed in the prior art. The sealing lipconsists of the same material as the lid and comprises a structuralflexibility as a result of being realized in a particularly thin manner.Compared to a container according to WO 02/087 986 A1, the tightness ismore than tripled and is, in particular, approximately 360% of thetightness of the container arrangement according to WO 02/087 986 A1.The container comprises a container longitudinal axis and a containerconnecting element. The lid is connectable to the container andcomprises for this purpose a lid connecting element which correspondswith the container connecting element. In particular, the connectingelements are realized as thread such that the lid is advantageouslyscrew-connectable onto the container. In particular, an exterior threadis provided on the container and an interior thread is provided on thelid. As an alternative to this, a snap-on-type connection is conceivablein such a manner that a radially outwardly protruding, in particularcircumferential web is arranged on the container. In a correspondingmanner, the lid can comprise an undercut element which engages behindthe circumferential web on the container and consequently ensures areliable connection between the container and the lid.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a lid is provided with acircumferential groove in which the sealing element is arranged in acaptive manner. The lid simplifies the mounting of the sealing element.The sealing element is arranged reliably on the lid. The risk of thesealing element being lost when the lid is removed from the container isexcluded.

The configuration of the groove which comprises a groove width which issmaller than or equal to a thickness of the sealing element, ensures areliable arrangement of the sealing element in the groove. The sealingelement is arranged in a captive manner in the groove. When thecontainer arrangement is opened and when the lid is removed from thecontainer, the sealing element remains on the lid and is, in particular,not ejected due to gravity. The sealing action is additionally improved.

A displaceable bottom which is arranged in a sealed manner along thecontainer longitudinal axis in the container, enables a product to bedelivered in an advantageous manner from the container arrangement.

The sealing element serves for sealing the lid on the container. Inparticular, an, in particular ring-shaped, end face of the container issealed with the sealing element. The sealing element therefore seals, inparticular, the end face. A sealing face, which is oriented radiallywith reference to the container longitudinal axis, is avoided as aresult. The end face comprises, in particular, a surface normal which isoriented parallel to the container longitudinal axis. The sealingelement is realized so as to be flexibly deformable. The sealingmaterial, from which the sealing element is produced, is in particularelastic. The sealing element is arranged, in particular, in such amanner between the container and the lid, which is connected thereto,that reliable sealing is ensured. Where the internal pressure in aninterior which is closed by the container arrangement is additionallyincreased, the sealing element, on account of the interior pressure, canadditionally adhere to the container and/or the lid and the sealingeffect can increase in an additional manner. The container arrangementis suitable, in particular, for the preparation of cosmetic and/orpharmaceutical masses, as where an agitation process is necessary forthese, air inclusion is able to be reliably ruled out.

A separate sealing element according to the invention simplifies theproduction of the container arrangement. The sealing element can berealized as a separate element, in particular, as an O-ring which isplaced into the groove of the lid. The sealing element is available, inparticular, in large quantities and at favourable costs as astandardized element. The separate sealing element can also be realizedas a flat sealing ring.

As an alternative to this, it is possible to mould the sealing elementintegrally in one piece on the lid or on the container, in particular asa result of two component injection moulding. For example, a siliconering can be integrally moulded in one piece on the lid from athermoplastic material, in particular polyethylene and/or polypropylene,as a result of two component injection molding technology.

An arrangement of the sealing element in a pre-stressed manner, inparticular in the axial direction with reference to the containerlongitudinal axis, ensures that the interior of the containerarrangement is already reliably sealed as a result of fitting the lidonto the container. The handling of the container arrangement isunsusceptible to error. In particular, the sealing element and/or thethread connection of the container and the lid is/are realized in such amanner that manually screwing the lid onto the container ensuresreliable sealing of the container arrangement.

In the case of a container arrangement with the lid connected, the endface of the container being arranged inside the groove, the sealingeffect is additionally increased.

An arrangement, wherein the end face defines a reduced groove depth(T_(N,red)) which is smaller than the height of the sealing element,wherein T_(N,red) is less than 0.95 times the height of the sealingelement in particular, provides an increased sealing effect.

A container arrangement, wherein the container is arranged at a spacingfrom the lid, in particular as a result of a radial gap, in the regionof the groove, ensures that the sealing action is effected exclusivelyby the sealing element. There is no direct contact surface between thelid and the container. As a result, a contact surface between twocomparatively hard contact partners is excluded, which could open due toincreased internal pressure in the container.

A container which comprises a rotationally symmetrical inside surface issuitable, in particular, for the production of cosmetic and/orpharmaceutical products, such as ointments or creams.

A central spout which is closable, in particular sealed, by means of acap, on the one hand improves the dosed delivery of the product from thecontainer arrangement. On the other hand, the spout can serve as accessfor an agitating tool in order to prepare the product in the containerarrangement.

A sealing material which comprises a hardness of between Shore A 15 andShore A 95, in particular between Shore A 20 and Shore A 90, and inparticular between Shore A 30 and Shore A 60, enables particularlyadvantageous sealing of the lid on the container.

The present invention will be described in detail below with referenceto the attached figures. The various features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a betterunderstanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specificobjects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of theinvention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container arrangement according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view according to the line ofintersection II-II in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the detail III in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The container arrangement designated as a whole in FIGS. 1 to 3 by wayof the reference 1 is realized as a pot. A storage and delivery vessel,which is used chiefly for semi-solid preparations such as ointments,pastes or creams, is designated as a pot. It is particularlyadvantageous that the semi-solid preparation, which serves, inparticular, for cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical purposes, is also able tobe prepared directly in the pot 1. The risk of contaminants is reducedand, in particular, excluded.

The container arrangement 1 includes a container 2 which is closable bymeans of a lid 3.

The container 2 is realized in a substantially hollow cylindrical mannerand comprises a container longitudinal axis 4. The container 2 isproduced as a one-piece molded part, in particular as a result ofplastics material injection molding, in particular from a thermoplasticmaterial, in particular from polypropylene.

The container 2 is produced from a thermoplastic material, in particularfrom polypropylene. The hardness of the container material is betweenShore D 50 and Shore D 90, in particular Shore D 60 and Shore D 80 andin particular Shore D 65 and Shore D 75.

The container 2 comprises an inside surface 5 which is rotationallysymmetrical with reference to the container longitudinal axis 4. Theinside surface 5 is realized as a shell wall of a circular cylinder. Theouter contour of the container 2 can essentially be configured freelyand, in particular, can be realized in a non-rotationally symmetricalmanner.

At a first end along the container longitudinal axis 4, the container 2comprises a container opening 6 which is closed by the lid 3. Acontainer connecting element 8 in the form of a thread is integrallymolded in one piece on the outside 7 of the container 2 in the region ofthe container opening 6. The container connecting element 8 is anexternal thread. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, thecontainer connecting element 8 is a triple trapezoidal thread.

The container 2 comprises a chamfer 15 on its inside surface 5 in theregion of the container opening 6. The chamfer 15 forms a lead-inchamfer for the lid 3. The chamfer 15 facilitates the fitting andscrew-connecting of the lid 3 on the container 2. The container 2comprises a ring-face-shaped end face 16 in the region of the containeropening 6 at the first end.

At a second end, which is located along the container longitudinal axis4 opposite the first end, the container 2 comprises a substantiallyring-face-shaped standing surface 9, by way of which the container 2 isstood in a defined manner on a base. The standing surface 9 is realizedas a rounding of the cylinder shell wall of the container 2. Thestanding surface 9 comprises a central opening 10.

The lid 3 comprises a substantially circular cylindrical collar 11 and acover plate 12. The collar 11 encompasses the container 2 in the regionof the container opening 6. On an inside of the collar 11, a lidconnecting element 13 is realized in the form of an internal threadwhich corresponds with the external thread of the container 2. The lidconnecting element 13 is realized as a triple trapezoidal thread.

The lid 3 is produced from a thermoplastic material, in particularpolypropylene. The hardness of the lid material is between Shore D 50and Shore D 90, in particular Shore D 60 and Shore D 80 and inparticular Shore D 65 and Shore D 75.

Gripping grooves 14 are provided on an outside surface of the collar 11in order to facilitate the opening of the container arrangement, that isto say the unscrewing of the threaded connection between the container 2and the lid 3. The gripping grooves 14 are realized as elevations on theoutside surface of the collar 11. The gripping grooves 14 extend alongthe container longitudinal axis 4. The gripping grooves 14 are arrangedalong the outer circumference of the collar 11.

The cover plate 12, which is connected, in particular in one piece, tothe collar 11, extends substantially over the container opening 6. Thecover plate 12 covers up the container opening 6.

A rectangular groove 17 is provided in the lid 3 between the collar 11and the cover plate 12 in the radial direction with reference to thecontainer longitudinal axis 4. The rectangular groove 17 comprises agroove width B_(N) and a groove depth T_(N). The groove depth T_(N) isoriented parallel to the container longitudinal axis 4. The groove widthB_(N) is oriented radially to the container longitudinal axis. With thecontainer arrangement 1 in the closed state, the container 2 projectswith the end face 16 into the groove 17. A reduced groove depthT_(N,red) is fixed as a result.

As shown in FIG. 3, the groove 17 is not perfectly rectangular. Inparticular, the inner side flank 18 of the groove 17 is arranged in aninclined manner in relation to the container longitudinal axis 4. Aconically tapering development is produced for the groove 17 as aresult.

The lid 3, in particular the cover plate 12, with the containerarrangement 1 in the closed state, is arranged spaced from the container2 by a radial gap 19, in particular in the region of the groove 17 andin particular in the region of the chamfer 15. There is no directcontact surface between the container 2 and the lid 3—with the exceptionof the threaded connection 8, 13.

A sealing element 20 in the form of an O-ring is placed into the groove17. The sealing element 20 comprises a circular cross-sectional areawith a diameter D which corresponds to a thickness of the sealingelement 20 and to a height of the sealing element 20. The thickness ofthe sealing element is oriented radially to the container longitudinalaxis 4. The height of the sealing element is oriented parallel to thecontainer longitudinal axis 4. Other geometric configurations of thesealing element 20 are also possible, such as, in particular, a flatsealing ring which comprises a rectangular cross-sectional area.

In the representation according to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the containerarrangement 1, where the lid 3 is fitted on the container 2, the sealingelement 20 is arranged in the groove 17 in a pre-stressed manner. Thepre-stressing is produced as a result of the sealing element 20 beingarranged in a deformed manner in the groove 17. Deformation is producedas a result of the groove width B_(N) being smaller than the thicknessof the sealing element 20. This means that the sealing element 20 isarranged in the groove 17 pre-stressed in the radial direction withreference to the container longitudinal axis.

Axial pre-stressing of the sealing element 20 is produced as a result ofthe end face 16 of the container 2 protruding so far into the groove 17that the reduced groove depth is smaller than the height of the sealingelement 20. As a result of interaction between the threads of thecontainer connecting element 8 and the lid connecting element 13, theend face 16 is pressed into the groove 17 and in particular against thesealing element 20.

The sealing element 20 comprises a sealing material with a hardness ofbetween Shore A 30 and Shore A 60. The lid 3 comprises a central spout21 on which is provided a circumferential sealing lip 22 which faces thecontainer opening 6. An external thread, onto which a cap 23 isscrew-connectable, is provided on the spout 21. The cap 23 is realizedin the shape of a spherical calotte. The cap 23 is arranged in a sealedmanner on the spout 21. The lid 3 is realized in a completely tightmanner as a result of the cap 23.

A bottom 24, which is arranged in a sealed manner by means of anintegrated bottom sealing lip 25 on the inside surface 5 of thecontainer 2, is arranged in the container 2. The bottom 24 is realizedsubstantially in the shape of a cylinder disc and is arranged in thecontainer 2 so as to be displaceable along the container longitudinalaxis 4. The bottom 24 is manageable from outside the containerarrangement via the opening 10. The bottom 24 can be displaced along thecontainer longitudinal axis 4 manually or by means of an aid.

The container 2, the lid 3 and the bottom 24 delimit a substantiallycylindrical interior 26 of the container arrangement 1. The interior 26is closable in a sealed manner.

Experiments have been carried out to test the tightness with thecontainer arrangement 1 and with a corresponding container arrangementin WO 02/087 986 A1. The test was run according to the specifications ofan SPC inspection. The interior 26 was filled with water and the bottom24 pressed at a test force along the container longitudinal axis 4 inthe direction of the lid 3. The pressing force was measured. The forceat which water exits from the interior 26 serves as the characteristicvalue for the tightness of the container arrangement 1. Said pressingforce for the container 2 according to the invention with a capacity of100 ml was 18 kg. The pressing force in the case of a similar-volumecontainer according to the prior art was 5 kg.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container arrangement, comprising: a containerbody; a lid connectable to the container body for placing the containerarrangement in a closed state; and a sealing element, the lid comprisinga circumferential groove configured to receive the sealing element in acaptive manner, the groove being at least partially defined by an innerside flank, the container body having an end portion configured tocontact the sealing element inside the groove when the containerarrangement is in the closed state, and the container body being furtherconfigured to be spaced apart from the inner side flank when inside thegroove and the container arrangement is in the closed state.
 2. Thecontainer arrangement in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: adisplaceable bottom, wherein the container body has a containerlongitudinal axis, the displaceable bottom being arranged to sealablycontact an inner wall of the container body and the displaceable bottombeing configured to be movable along the container longitudinal axis. 3.The container arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein thecontainer body has a container longitudinal axis, wherein the inner sideflank of the groove is inclined relative to the container longitudinalaxis.
 4. The container arrangement in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe end portion of the container body decreases in thickness towards anopen end of the container body.
 5. The container arrangement inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the end portion of the container bodyhas an end face and an inner surface, the end face being configured tocontact the sealing element when the container arrangement is in theclosed state.
 6. The container arrangement in accordance with claim 5,wherein the sealing element is compressed by the end face of the endportion of the container body when the container arrangement is in theclosed state.
 7. The container arrangement in accordance with claim 5,wherein the inner surface of the end portion of the container body ischamfered.
 8. The container arrangement in accordance with claim 5,wherein a radial gap separates the inner surface of the end portion ofthe container body and the inner side flank of the groove when thecontainer arrangement is in the closed state, wherein the sealingelement is reachable by fluid inside the container body via the gap whenthe container arrangement is in the closed state.
 9. The containerarrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the groove is furtherdefined by an outer side flank and the inner side flank extends furtherin the container longitudinal direction than the outer side flank. 10.The container arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein part ofthe end portion is inside the groove when the container arrangement isin the closed state, and a thickness of the part of the end portioninside the groove is less than a width of the groove.
 11. The containerarrangement in accordance with claim 10, wherein the part of the endportion inside the groove contacts only the sealing element and the partof the end portion inside the groove does not contact the lid.
 12. Thecontainer arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lidcomprises a collar with a lid connecting element, wherein an outside ofthe container body and the collar of the lid comprise complementarythreads to allow threading of the lid to place the container arrangementin the closed state.
 13. The container arrangement in accordance withclaim 12, wherein direct contact between the container and the lid whenthe container arrangement is in the closed state is provided by only thecomplementary threads.
 14. The container arrangement in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the sealing element is an O-ring.
 15. The containerarrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sealing element is aflat sealing ring.
 16. The container arrangement in accordance withclaim 1, wherein an outside surface of the collar comprises grippinggrooves to facilitate placing the container arrangement into the closedstate and opening of the container arrangement from the closed state.17. The container arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein thelid comprises a central spout.
 18. The container arrangement inaccordance with claim 17, further comprising a cap, wherein the centralspout comprises an external thread, the cap comprising internal threadsfor complementarily engaging the external threads on the central spout.19. A container arrangement, comprising: a container body; and a lidconnectable to the container body for placing the container arrangementin a closed state, the lid comprising a circumferential grooveconfigured to receive a sealing element, the groove being at leastpartially defined by an inner side flank, the container body having anend portion with an end face and a chamfered inner surface configured tobe spaced apart from the inner side flank when the container arrangementis in the closed state.
 20. The container arrangement in accordance withclaim 19, further comprising a displaceable bottom, the container bodyhaving a container longitudinal axis, the displaceable bottom beingarranged to sealably contact an inner wall of the container body and thedisplaceable bottom being configured to be movable along the containerlongitudinal axis.